🚲 edi.bike | issue 114 | 13th Oct ‘25
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
✨ New Consultation: plans for Dundee Street and Fountainbridge
Consultation opened this week on a promising scheme of protected cycleways, crossings and other improvements between Tollcross Primary and two western extents; the bottom of Henderson Terrace, and the end of a proposed ‘canal alternative’ route rejoining the towpath at Ashley Drive following a crossing from Ogilvie Terrace.
You can view the technical drawings in this PDF [23.7mb download].
👀 For the first time (that we’ve seen), there are a couple of brilliant ‘overview’ images that paint illustrations of the new infrastructure and interventions directly onto maps of the area. These are large image files that require zooming in to see the implementation, but are a little easier to parse than the technical drawings alone. The first image [13.3mb] lays out the Dundee St / Fountainbridge Route, while the second image [17.8mb] contains a number of the southern ‘canal alternative’ interventions being planned within the project that also ease school routes and the crossing of Ashley Terrace. These are well worth a look over, particularly if you find the usual technical PDFs difficult to visualise.
Looking across the ’main’ route of the scheme, there’s a lot to like - ‘hard segregated’ protected cycleways, new toucan crossings, and finally finishing up the ‘Roseburn to Union Canal’ project with a bidirectional protected route from the top of the Telfer Subway along the northern side of Dundee St to Toucan crossing over and through a new continuous footway at Gibson Terrace. Once on Gibson Terrace the design somewhat gives up and brings cyclists out onto the carriageway, but we can at least upgrade the name of the project from ‘almost’ to ‘very nearly’ Union Canal…
At the emergence of Lochrin Basin onto the junction with Fountainbridge and Gardner’s Cres, there is also what might be Edinburgh’s first CYCLOPS junction - unless the Dalry Living Well Locally plans are delivered first, which feature designs for a CYCLOPS at the junction of Gorgie Rd, Dalry Rd, Ardmillan Ter et al.
The technical drawings don’t make clear whether the ramped steps up from the Telfer Subway — and the new Toucan crossing over the West Approach Rd to the Roseburn Link — will be made more accessible: new markings are shown at the top of this space, but no details or materials are depicted otherwise.
The project is not entirely without issues - a questionable two-stage right turn to reach Henderson Terrace is proposed, and interventions intended to make the area south of the scheme a better alternative to constrained sections of the Union Canal towpath don’t go quite far enough to be a proper Low Traffic Neighbourhood and prevent just shifting problem traffic into new rat runs - but there are some strong plans within this project and hopefully, buoyed by monitoring updates from CCWEL’s success, a resolute team to deliver it.
We’ll no doubt have more to say on this project with time - the ’Dundee Street Fountainbridge Active Travel Project’ is open for comments until 12 January 2026.
⛴️ South Queensferry High Street project an “opportunity missed”
A number of renders from the now-underway Queensferry High Street Improvements project have been circulating on social media this week — and getting fairly lambasted by the capital’s cyclists.
From what we can establish from an initial perusal of the technical drawings and project aims:
The project seems to entail a permanent, ‘one-way Eastbound’ progress for vehicular traffic, with cycle contraflow throughout. Working backwards from Sheet 5, which begins outside the Thirty Knots pub & restaurant [GMaps], there is around 200m of kerb-segregated westbound contraflow cycle lane along the length of Edinburgh Road; this gives up outside 18 Edinburgh Rd [GMaps] as the road narrows.
Beyond this, sheets 3 through 1 depict a series of setted, shared space pinch points (often on raised table crossings) to negotiate, with no ‘hard segregated’ cycleway from here to the end of the designed scheme just after The Little Bakery [GMaps].
This last section of the scheme uses a single type of granite kerb set flush with the road surface to ‘delineate’ not only sections of contraflow cycleway, but also any loading bays and assigned parking - making route and space legibility for road users of all stripes the carriageway equivalent of a Doctor’s handwriting, and baking in conflict between transport modes right from the outset. Putting aside that we know painted-on cycleways aren’t protection, and are the most parked-on type of cycle infrastructure across the city - marking out supposed cycleways in exactly the same material choices as parking and loading says the council got a bulk discount on granite kerbs, rather than that they understand how to make street layouts legible, even within the constraints of a heritage context like South Queensferry High St.
Will this scheme prove better than the status quo? Almost certainly, and town centre rejuvenation here is a big plus. But could it have been better realised, from a safety and transport perspective, with a bumpy road ahead while the changes bed in? Undoubtedly. Its car-centric nature has already cost the Council project funding, too:
Hardly "transformation" The Council lost Sustrans funding as it has too much car parking, retains vehicle access at all times, squeezes a tiny unprotected cycle lane and protects no pedestrian spaces from vehicles. A massive waste of money and only adds to the Council's "opportunity missed" list — @thebonnieloon on Bluesky »
🏰 Local Bits
🚋 Looking ahead to the North-South tram extension’s deadline in mid November, Spokes have this week posted their detailed draft response to the plans;
🍑 This week in Voi hire ebike news:
More than 4,000 people have used Edinburgh’s new cycle hire scheme in the first month since it launched, The Herald has been told. — full article (paywalled) »
Right now we’re seeing another huge dip in the availability of the bikes, with only five cycles available in the city at time of writing - which makes the popularity of the scheme in its first month all the more impressive, given that it’s had a number of ‘availability troughs’ as the service seemingly struggles to keep the bikes charged sufficiently particularly over weekends (assumedly as they build up staff, but aside from speaking to The Herald, Voi appear to be a bit of a black box in terms of telling us all how it’s going).
Voi also made the news this week as several of their bikes were used in an attempted daytime bike theft with an angle grinder by some balaclava b*stards in St. Andrews Square. If these bikes were being used on hire, rider information could be useful to police (author wears a ‘cynical grimace’) — or, they’ve found a way to get them running without using the app?
🧘 Last movement / yoga session of the season from Detour [IG] this week:
18th October - Yoga by Bike, Longniddry - see the wee promo / preview on Instagram - 🎟️ Details and Tickets »
💡 Infrasisters ‘Glow Ride’ on Friday 24th October, 7.30pm:
We're back! We've teamed up with Cycling UK for a Glow Ride on Friday 24th October. Like us, they want to see more women cycling, and for councils to provide more safe infrastructure to enable that.
Light up your bike with lights and sparkle and join us at 📍 Middle Meadow Walk at 7.30pm. — Bluesky post »
🎙️ Towpath Talks October edition, October 24th, 18:30:
October’s Towpath Talks are going to be all about Strathpuffer! Join us on Friday October 24th to hear from two amazing guests: Keith Forsyth, a Strathpuffer aficionado since 2008 and Alasdair Lawton, the organiser of Strathpuffer.
🎟️ Tickets can be acquired from Gamma, who are also hosting the event.
🎨 Artists Calum Carr and DullArtist24 have completed their mural spanning the length and breadth of the Balgreen Rd pedestrian tunnel between Pansy Walk and Baird Drive - see the wee video walkthrough on Facebook or head down to check it out in person;
🦺 Cycle Law Scotland have released tickets for their Cycle Road Safety Roadshow in Edinburgh on the 17th November;
🚦 Deadline News: Edinburgh Lib Dem Councillor Jack Caldwell is campaigning for improvements to the junction of Dalmeny St / St Clair St and Easter Rd, via a petition. Notably the petition signup appears to be another petition-slash-Lib-Dem-mailing-list operation (see the previous Roseburn Path petition).
🚶 Living Streets Edinburgh Group this week published ‘Our asks for Holyrood 2026 elections’’ »
💙 Ride for Tim: Edinburgh talks mental health and cycling - Wednesday 29th October, 18:45 — Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House
In August 2025 we cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats (LEJOG) in memory of our friend Tim, who tragically took his life earlier in the year. The Ride for Tim website gives a bit of background to Tim and the charities that we raised money for, and there's a diary of the journey as well.
This event is a chance to share stories from the LEJOG ride as well as talk about cycling and mental health, and pay tribute to Tim. It's in aid of the three charities we raised money for during the ride: Mind, Sustrans and Flight Free UK. The event is free to attend but you will be encouraged to make a donation to the fundraiser!
All welcome.Speakers:
Anna Hughes - Long distance cyclist, including round-Britain, Director of Flight Free UK, and Tim's friend. I'll be talking about our LEJOG ride and showing some pictures, as well as sharing a couple of stories from Tim's travels and his motivations.
Nick Ray
Sea Kayaker, Wild Walker, Writer, Creative & Creator, Mental Health Advocate & Suicide Prevention. Nick will be talking about his adventures, his own journey with mental health, and his work on suicide prevention.Lynne Stanford
Health in Mind, Edinburgh's mental health charity. Lynne will talk about the reality people face who are dealing with mental health conditions, and signpost people towards services that can help.
18:45, 29th October, at 📍 Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House - RSVP via Facebook.
⛈️ National
☀️ Cycling UK on the Beeb:
Two hours, that’s how long you can leave your bike at a train station before the British Transport Police won’t investigate if it’s stolen.
This morning, our Head of Campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, joined BBC Breakfast to challenge this decision and to highlight what it means for people who are thinking about cycling for part of their daily commute.
More on their Instagram video »
🌍 ELSEWHERE
🇫🇷 A new study reveals that cycling traffic in Paris has increased by 240% between 2018 and 2023, while car traffic has steadily declined. In central districts, more than one in ten trips are now made by bike—a remarkable shift for a metropolis once synonymous with gridlock. — article at Momentum »
⚡️ Vital nuance and understanding, that would be great to see here:
It is possible to differentiate between DIY e-bikes and manufactured e-bikes, so says the Australian state of New South Wales, which has now banned DIY from its trains, all the while still encouraging manufactured e-bikes — Cycling Electric »
🛣 Route Closures and Issues
ℹ️ Encountered unexpected road issues? Find out how to report them with this guide from Spokes. The team at Edinburgh Travel News are also keen to hear about cycle path alerts and can be contacted on Threads or Facebook.
🦋 On Bluesky? Follow the #EdTravCyc feed - anyone can use the #EdTravCyc hashtag to share route issues they encounter;
📪 The week’s road closure info - many thanks to regular contributor Robbie for collating and preparing these:
🌲 Union Canal: Closure of NCR 754 by Kingsknowe for tree works 8:30am – 4:30pm daily until 23rd October. A pedestrian diversion has been signed involving steps and unpaved surfaces.
🚧 Silverknowes Road: Road and segregated cycle lanes closed for resurfacing works until 26th October. A lengthy 900m dismount may be required along the works, however Marine Dr and Muirhouse Pkwy may offer an alternate route.
🏗️ Wester Hailes Road: Northbound advisory cycle lane and footway by Clovenstone Roundabout closed until this Friday 17th October for Vodafone telecom pole installation.
🚧 Saughton Crescent: Sections of QuietRoute 9 closed for resurfacing and Active Travel improvements by Balgreen from 20th October into 2026. Impact on cycling is expected to peak in December and January.
Longer Term Closures:
🏞️ Water of Leith Path: Closure of Pansy Walk by Balgreen until March 2026 for Scottish Water upgrades. Pedestrian diversion to be signed via Westfield Ave. However, for cyclists, the WOL Conservation Trust advise an alternate diversion via Baird Drive.
🚧 Albion Road: Eastbound obstruction of Quietroute 20 due to a burst sewer. The Crawford Bridge may offer an alternate route.
🚧 Gilmore Place: Irregular closures and obstructions for resurfacing until March 2026. If you’re travelling on NCR75 between Union Canal and The Meadows, Lochrin Place may be an alternative.
🔥 Holyrood Park: Closure of High Road until further notice amid concern that the recent gorse fire has damaged the rockface. Full closure of footway and road past Dunsapie Loch. HES are reviewing an engineering report to see how it can be reopened.
🏗️ Edinburgh Park Station: Quietroute 8 cycle path between Hermiston Gait and the Gyle Centre closed for works in preparation of the Edinburgh Arena development. It’s only possible to go around by carrying your bike up roughly 20 steps. It’s been queried whether the cycle path will reopen or remain closed long term.
🌉 Harrison Road: two bridges closed due to structural concerns with micro-cracking in the original cast iron beams:
The north-west bridge over a small path requires a dismount and use of the footway. The bridge is expected to fully close to pedestrians and cycles for 3 months during rebuilding works, date tbc.
The south-east bridge over the Union Canal is closed to cars but not cycles, with fencing placed across the bridge as a temporary modal filter. The bridge is expected to reopen to cars with a 7.5T weight limit.
🌉 South Gyle Road: Bridge between modal filter and Quiet Route 9 closed for repairs until April 2026. It is required to dismount and use a temporary bridge.
🏗️ Port Hamilton Cyclepath: Shared use path between Union Canal and West End closed until 2026/27 for building works. A diversion is advised via Gardeners Crescent and Semple Street.
🏗️ Craighall Road: Closed until May 2028 for the Refurbishment of Trinity Academy. Access to the Victoria Path is expected to be maintained. A diversion will be signed along Newhaven Road, however the removal of parking for improved traffic flow may lead to this being a wider and faster road, less suitable for cycles.
⚡ Ongoing: The questionable Network Rail ban on ebike parking at Waverley Station - best to make alternative parking plans if travelling from this station at present;
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🎉 Events and Happenings
📆 Upcoming / Ongoing
📋 The next meeting of Longstone Community Council today, Monday 13th October will include an update from Council officers on the Longstone Link bridge connecting Inglis Green Rd to New Mart Rd, and its proposed deck width;
⚡️ From Porty Community Energy:
🚲 Never got round to learning to cycle, but would love to try? Cycled when you were younger, but feeling too nervous to ride on the roads? We had just the thing! Free lessons for adults running every Friday morning at our bike library. Lessons for complete beginners, to competent riders who want to ride safely on the roads.
Every Friday until the end of October. Book your place here »
🚶🏻♀️ Wester Hailes Walk, Pedal and Thrive Project June to October Events at ScoreScotland - mainly based at 📍 Gate 55, 55 Sighthill Rd, and booking required - call / text Madhavi on 07496 190 752 or email madhavi@scorescotland.org.uk.
🚸 Play Together on Pedals (3 to 6 year olds): Fridays from 2pm to 4pm;
🧭 Led Cycle Rides: Saturdays from 9:45am to 1pm;
🚲 Adult Beginners / Family Cycle Training: text for an appointment.
🚌 Every Sunday until 26th October: “Inner Forth Bike Bus - the route, between Alloa and the Forth Bridges, encourages cyclists to travel more sustainably within the Inner Forth. See this video on Instagram for more. The concept of the Inner Forth Bike Bus was developed to enable local people, and visitors, to help them cycle (or walk) part of the 'Round the Inner Forth' route, hop off at fascinating heritage sites, and return home or to a bus stop / train station for their onward travels.” Read more from Markus Stitz at The Times - or see Info and Timetable »
📆 Cycling UK's annual Scottish gathering, featuring speakers including ultra-endurance rider Emily Chappell and MTB powerhouse Aneela McKenna — Saturday, 1st November from 10:30am - 4pm at 📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge
(with a led ride from Haymarket starting at 9.30am). Details and Tickets here »
🎟️ ‘True tales of the Tour De France’ talk by Carlton Kirby at Ghillie Dhu, 12th November;
🖼️ The ‘Pedal Power’ exhibition about cycle campaigning in Edinburgh has finished its run at Norton Park. It’ll be taking a short break before opening again later in the year at North Edinburgh Arts;
💯 Edinburgh RC celebrating its hundredth year in 2025 and have an ongoing challenge encouraging 100 women of all cycling abilities to ride 100km - offering help to anyone who needs it along the way;
🔁 Weekly Events
🍃 Mon, 12-2.30pm: Free, fun group ride on paths from Bridgend Farmhouse;
🌅 Tues, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol - Meet St. Andrew Square, same route each time - more info on their Instagram;
☕️ Tues, 5pm: [National] Active Travel Cafe on Zoom
🛠️ Weds, 3pm: Bike Kitchen at Edinburgh Tool Library
🌅 Thurs, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol (same as Tues, details above);
🪨 Thurs Evenings: Edinburgh Gravel Cycling Club social group rides;
✴️ Thurs, 5-8pm: Bike DIY Session at The Wee Spoke Hub
⚙️ Sat, 2-4pm: ‘Bike Cleaning and Oiling’ drop-in session at The Wee Spoke Hub
🟰 Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council’s Edinburgh Cycling Club run weekly group rides and introductory classes;
🔁 Monthly Events
🚲 First Friday of the month: Inclusive social bike rides with A Wee Pedal from Bridgend Farmhouse - every Friday 2-4pm between April and Hallowe’en, 1-3pm on the 1st Friday of each month November to March.
✊ Last Saturday of the month: Critical Mass Edinburgh, Family-friendly mass protest / group ride, 2pm, Middle Meadow Walk;
🫂 Help Needed
🏴 Cycling Scotland are hiring for a Head of Finance and Corporate Services - more details on their website, deadline today (13th October);
💰 The Movement for Good Awards is an annual programme of giving by The Benefact Group donating over £1 million to charities and good causes, and you can nominate The Bike Station to receive £1,000 here »
🚲 The Bike Station is recruiting new volunteers! 🚲
After the successful move into our new Tollcross shop, we are seeking the support of new volunteers to help us do the brilliant work of getting more people on bikes. The priority roles that we are seeking help with include:
🛒 Shop volunteers:
Helping with customer service and the smooth running of our Tollcross store.
📦 Cargo Bike Riders:
Independent and confident riders to help courier goods between our Edinburgh stores.
🛠️ Fix Your Own Bike:
Those experienced in bike maintenance to offer advice to those keen to fix their own bike.
✅ Benefits of volunteering:
Join a wide team of volunteers and staff passionate about cycling, discounts on parts, services and maintenance courses. Internal recruitment opportunities made available to volunteers as well as access to events and social rides to celebrate our work.
If you are interested in any of the above roles, or would like to know how else you may be able to get involved, please email jamie.henderson@thebikestation.org.uk
Ongoing: 🚌 Marshal for School Bike Buses | 🙋 Help with school programme ‘I Bike’ | 🗨️Join Spokes’ Planning or Resources group | 🆘 Donate money or bikes to Bikes for Refugees | 📦⚡️ Hire Community Cargobikes, E-bikes or Trailers from SW20, Porty Community Energy or Banzai | ♻️ Donate old bikes to The Bike Station, The Wee Spoke Hub or ‘Brake the Cycle’.
🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
✨Now a shorter, sectioned list - website updates for hosting consultation details and plans coming… in 2026? 😅 ✨
✏️ In the Works:
⭕️ Polwarth Gardens road layout consultation has just closed;
⚒️ Queensferry Connections project comments have just closed at 10th October;
🤔 The ‘Curriehill Active Travel Link’ reported by Spokes to have been delayed beyond its 2025 due date by ‘biodiversity concerns’.
🚋 Major North-South Tramline Consultation until 17th November| Spokes’ Summary | Officers A8 ‘Diversion’ Clarification
🤫 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route having detrimental changes made, delayed to January ‘26: Detailed Designs [PDF] | ETRO Published as TRO/25/17
⚒️ Road Resurfacing & early ‘Dalry Living Well Locally’ Outcomes
🧱 Vital path upgrade through Muir Wood park in Currie
🦦 Burdiehouse & Niddrie Burn Restoration - blue-green regeneration project including 3m wide ‘Pentlands to Portobello’ core path;
🔬 Trials & Programmes Underway:
✨ Improving Old Town Streets | Includes current ETRO for Lawnmarket & Johnston Terrace
📋 Consulted On:
⛏️ Marionville Rd and Smokey Brae improvements;
🧪 Edinburgh BioQuarter Active Travel Gaps - Sheriffhall Park & Ride to BioQuarter Campus Route;
🌞 Dalry Living Well Locally | Initial Feedback Report » [PDF]
⚓ Leith Connections Phase 3 - Hawthornvale to Seafield | Detailed Designs (PDF) »
🚴🏽♂️ Midlothian Council - A7 Sustainable Transport Corridor
East Lothian Council - Prestonpans to Levenhall | Combined plans » [Large PDF]
🚧 Under Construction:
⚓️ Foot of the Walk to Dock Street | Works leaflet » [PDF] | Progress photos »
🚋 Trams to Newhaven Snagging / Defects List »
🤬 Silverknowes Rd North being returned to cars | Spokes’ area history
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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